DS didn't bring the school portrait envelope home

[Mickeypooh99]

We use Lifetouch and from other posts, it seems like the rates vary widely. I don't understand it at all!

I got the same exact package for both my boys. 1 is in 5th grade, 1 in 3rd grade. The 3rd graders pictures cost $1.00 more than the 5th graders. They are in the same school district, but different buildings. I thought it was a typo, but it wasn't.

 

[TarzansKat]

I am so glad someone posted about this. It's my first experience with school pictures, and the whole package concept, and I could not believe how expensive it is.

Honestly, I feel like we're bleeding money since DS started kindergarten, between the Scholastic Book Club, book fairs, fundraisers, special classroom events, and now school pictures. It's crazy! Ah well.

 

[twinglesmome]

My kids' schools use Lifetouch as well. I purchased a photo package of my middle schooler last year since it was a milestone year. I usually only purchase the class photo taken in the spring for my elementary kids. Yes, the schools profit from the purchase of portrait products sold there. Last spring, the elementary school offered Grandparents' Day photo packages, although the grandparents didn't actually visit their grandchildren. The classes each briefly performed for the grandparent audience. Yes, just another fundraising opportunity...

 

[torinsmom]

The problem is the school drills it into the kid's heads that if they don't go to the preferred senior portrait vendor, then their picture won't look the same in the yearbook and will stick out because the background won't be the same and the pose will be a little different. And I admit that even in MY high school senior yearbook, you can tell who went elsewhere because their pictures look weird in the sea of identical ones. But I think for DD we'll get the yearbook picture done by wherever the school sends us, order a handful (probably not even a package) and then have a family friend who is a photographer do all the fancy poses.

So, what about seniors that cannot afford to buy ANY pictures? Do they not take a picture for the yearbook? I know everyone cannot afford pictures, no matter whether their child is graduating or not.

 

[deedeecee]

My daughter started kindergarten this year, so this is our first foray into the world of school pictures.
Lifetouch, price not too bad, but picture quality terrible. We paid prior to seeing the photos. So, lesson learned. We will probably still get the class photo, or the cheapest package available, but it's JCPenney for us from now on. Pictures are inexpensive, decent quality and most importantly, you get to see, and select, the photos you want.
Re: senior pictures, back in the day when I was a senior, you had to go to the school-approved photographer. You didn't have to buy pictures from him, but you had to go to him for the 'official' photo for the school yearbook. Of course, most people just bought photos from him for the sake of convenience.

 

[apnep]

before they took pictures last week. The school sent out a notice reminding us to send them in the night before indicating that without the envelope we couldn't get pictures. I was very upset until he brought home the envelope after the fact and I saw the prices. The cheapest package to get the two 8x10 I need was $84

Is it just me or have school picture prices gotten totally outrageous in the last couple of years. Two years ago I paid just $34 for the same package that's now $84.

I REFUSE to buy school "portraits" anymore. I quit buying them 5 years ago. I got so sick of getting the proofs home and seeing that my kids' hair was messed up, they weren't smiling or something was wrong and the photo just looked bad. They want us to pay those high prices for a crappy photo? No thanks. I take my own kids' photos and love the candid shots I get. I blow them up and put those on my wall. I keep the little black and white proof they send home on the paper order form. I refuse to pay for such shoddy work. School picutres are a racquet if you ask me.

 

[weave76]

School pictures are a fundraiser for your school. The picture packages are set in price. Each school district adds to the price as an undisclosed fundraiser. Our school principal disclosed to the PTA board the true cost of the picture package. The "elite" package cost $12, however the school upgraded the cost to $43 resulting in a $31 profit. Not a bad deal made on the back of your child's memories.....

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

Our school uses Lifetouch as well. I buy 1 8x10 and that's it. I want to have the photo but I don't like the packages. I take enough snapshots of the kids throughout the year that the grandparents get those. I just can't afford to buy them school pictures too. Same with their sport photos. I get what I can afford and if they get a copy, great.

I would love for our school to use a local photographer. There are some great ones around here and it would be a great way to support the local community. Their packages tend to be better too. When the kids were in prek, the lady charged $35 and I got an 8x10, 2 5x7s and some wallets (I think).

 

[S. C.]

Our schools have always used lifetouch.This year they went with schoolpictures.com, got the pics back this week and they are crappy. It will be the last time I buy them if they continue with that company. I'll go to walmart, sears or JC Penny from now on.

 

[postage stamp]

I just got my daughter's back today. Um, less than stellar. Off to look and see if there is a retake day.

 

[fac]

I always told myself I will not buy the portraits, but then everytime I would at least pick the cheapest package. I just can't help not getting my kids' pictures. I wish they have an option for them to opt out taking the portraits. May be missing school on picture day.
This year, we have to pay prior to taking the pictures and was told that we could get our money if we are not happy with the pictures. I haven't seen the pictures yet.

 

[yeahdisney]

I also don't like school pictures. My kids want them because you get the class picture. So I buy the cheapest this year it was $10 (thankfully) we will get a class picture 2 5x7 and 4 wallets. The next week it was soccer pictures again I bought the cheapest $8.00 one picture of them and one team picture (4 kids didn't even show up for the team picture). Last week it was karate picture time. WOW the cheapest was 49.00 for a package. Or you could have one plain picture 8 x 10 one pose on a grey background. I did not purchase anything. I told the kids I could take their picture. The highest package was over $200 and people were purchasing it. The owner of the karate place wanted everyone to get their picture because he wanted each kid to be on the large poster he gets for his wall. I went for that only. Felt cheap that day but happy now.

 

[EKW]

This is our first year using Lifetouch and compared to our old photographers they are a steal. I paid $7.50 for 2 5x7's, 4 3.5x5's, 4 2 x3's and 8 wallets. And I am staff at our school and always have to have my photo taken for our i.d.'s and the yearbook and they just gave us a large picture package for free! I have no idea what I'm going to do with 50+ photos of myself but the jesture was nice.

That must be a deal your PTO cut with them! We have Lifetouch, and, while I usually don't buy from them because the school photos are horrificly bad, I wanted to check out the supposed online options this year. I paid $31 for 2 5 x 7's and 16 "exchange" size...meaning 1" x 1.5".

Compare that to today...I drove to Penneys, which is also Lifetouch, to have my older son's pics done. For $7.99 I got 2 8x10's, 2 5x7's, 4 3x5's, and 16 wallets.

Oh, and while teachers got a free sheet of wallets at my previous school, at this school we don't get any free photos of ourselves.

PLUS, I got to bring props and got my choice of about 16 poses.

I have a feeling I'll be getting my younger son's pics done, too. I haven't seen them yet, but of the 25 kids in my room, only 2 had pics that I would accept. Several of the kids have bizarre distortions...watermelon heads! How the heck did they manage THAT?